Jumprope game apparatus



March 1965 J. D. WALLACE ETAL 3,172,660

JUMPROPE GAME; APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1962 INVENTORS JANET D. WALLACE JUSTINE S. BOOSE BY United States Patent 3,172,660 ROPE GAME APPARATUS Janet D. Wallace, 500 (lountry Club Lane, and Justine S. Boose, 511 Country Club Lane, both of Coronado,

Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,894- 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) The present invention relates generally to games and more particularly to jumprope game apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide game apparatus in which an elastic rope element is held by and between spaced supporting pedestals, the elastic rope element being easily adjustable in height and tension for various games.

Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus in which the supporting pedestals each have spaced upright posts around which the elastic rope element is passed, so holding the rope element in two substantially parallel lengths.

A further object of this invention is to provide jumprope game apparatus wherein the elastic rope element is easily adjustable in height and in the spacing of the parallel lengths, the ease of height adjustment being an important feature in the enjoyment of the games played with the apparatus.

Finally, it is an object to provide jumprope game apparatus of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to manufacture and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus set up for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of a single pedestal;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation view of the pedestal; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical parts and portions throughout the several views.

The apparatus comprises a pair of pedestals and an elastic element 12 which will ordinarily be in the form of an endless loop and which is of small cross section and referred to by the term elastic rope element because of current usage of the term rope and to emphasize its general characteristics. Narrow dress making elastic of flat or round cross section, or plain strip rubber are suitable, a section of the required length being joined at the ends to form an endless loop.

Each pedestal 10 comprises a base plate 14 along one side of which is fixed a support block 16 of simple rectangular configuration. Base plate 14 is illustrated as being of triangular shape for simplicity and economy of material, but could be rectangular or any other shape without affecting the use of the apparatus. The support block 16 has a plurality of perpendicular sockets 18, four such sockets being indicated as arranged in two pairs, although other numbers and arrangements may be used. Each pedestal 10 is provided with a pair of posts 20 each having longitudinally spaced annular grooves 22, the posts having their lower terminals inserted into two of the sockets 18 which are a reasonably close fit to hold the posts firmly.

While various materials may be used, the base plate 14 may be economically made from plywood, the support block 16 from stock lumber such as common 2 x 4, and the posts 20 from dowel stock. Alternatively, and this is a feature of the invention, the base plate 14 and block 16 may be constructed from plastic or the like, as may be the posts 20, without significant variation from the disclosed form.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the pedestals 10 are placed 7 on the ground or any other suitable surface at a convenient distance apart, the base plates'14 preferably being disposed inwardly in opposition and eifectively stabilize the pedestals in normal use. Alternatively the base plates may be disposed outwardly and weighted with bricks, books, rocks, or other suitable ballast, as indicated in broken line at 24. The elastic rope 12 is looped around the four upright posts 20, which are illustrated as being in the outermost sockets 18, thus providing maximum spacing between the parallel extensions 26 of said elastic rope. The elastic rope 12 is seated in one groove 22 of each post 20, preferably the same groove of each post, so that said elastic rope is held parallel to the playing surface at a specific height, the pedestals being spaced to stretch the elastic slightly and prevent sagging. Alternatively the elastic rope element could be in two sections, each forming one reach 26 and being secured at the ends to the posts 249.

Many variations of the game are possible, but basically the action includes a player standing adjacent one extension 26 of elastic rope 12, with his feet together and both legs touching or substantially touching the elastic rope. The player must then jump over the far extension 26 carrying the near extension over with the feet, so that the legs are between the two extensions. Subsequent actions involve jumping and turning while still held by the elastic rope, then jumping back to free the legs. Other games involve jumping between the extensions 26 with one or more feet and various combinations of jumps over the elastic rope, with or without the legs engaged in a portion of the elastic.

As in conventional jumprope play with a non-elastic rope, the jumping can start with the rope low to the ground, raising the rope gradually as jumping advances. By means of the spaced grooves 22, the elastic rope 12 can be raised in steps, as indicated in the two positions in FIGURE 2. Further, the elastic rope is kept parallel to the playing surface and so avoids disagreement among the players as to equal jumping height at different positions. In addition to the height adjustment, the spacing between the extensions 26 can be varied by moving the posts 29 to other sockets 18, as indicated in broken line in FIGURE 3.

The apparatus is thus adjustable over a wide range to suit different games, the variations being limited only by the ingenuity and skill of the players.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

We claim:

1. Jumprope game apparatus, comprising:

a pair of pedestals spaced apart when in operative position and each having a base plate and a pair of spaced posts extending upwardly from the base plate;

an elastic rope element stretched between opposing pairs of posts of the spaced apart pedestals and defining two parallel reaches;

said posts being adjustable on said base plate to vary the spacing between the posts on each pedestal;

and said posts having vertically spaced elastic element retaining grooves for adjustably retaining said elastic rope element.

2. Jumprope game apparatus comprising:

a pair of pedestals each having a base plate;

a support block fixed to each base plate;

each support block having a plurality of spaced perpendicular sockets therein;

a pair of upright posts seated in said sockets, said posts being shiftable to different sockets to vary the spacing therebetween'; and 5 an endless elastic rope element looped around said posts with said pair of pedestals spaced apart thus providing substantially parallel, spaced linear reaches of the elastic element between the pedestals;

said posts having similarly vertically spaced elastic rope 10 element retaining grooves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 196,520 10/63 Wallace et a1. D34--5 201,328 3/78 Chamberlin 272-591 2,169,710 8/39 Schmidt 27260 2,944,815 7/60 Moyer 27263 RICHARD "C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. JUMPROPE GAME APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF PEDESTALS SPACED APART WHEN IN OPERATIVE POSITION AND EACH HAVING A BASE PLATE AND A PAIR OF SPACED POSTS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BASE PLATE; AN ELASTIC ROPE ELEMENT STRETCHED BETWEEN OPPOSING PAIRS OF POSTS OF THE SPACED APART PEDESTALS AND DEFINING TWO PARALLEL REACHES; SAID POSTS BEING ADJUSTABLE ON SAID BASE PLATE TO VARY THE SPACING BETWEEN THE POSTS ON EACH PEDESTAL; AND SAID POSTS HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED ELASTIC ELEMENT RETAINING GROOVES FOR ADJUSTABLY RETAINING SAID ELASTIC ROPE ELEMENT. 